Tuesday, September 07, 1999

Uniforms allow instant recognition

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Teachers sport a daily uniform

BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor

Brett Stubbs, a math/science teacher, conducts a sixth-grade class at Edgewood Middle School, where the teachers, not the students, wear uniforms. (Dick Swain photo) | ZOOM |

        TRENTON — Black Tuesday has nothing to do with the stock market at Edgewood Middle School.

        Rather, it refers to the uniform color of the day for staff members in this northeastern Butler County school. Each Tuesday, staff members wear black slacks, jumpers or skirts with a monogrammed shirt. On Wednesdays, participants wear navy, while khaki is the color for Monday. Every other Friday, it's jeans day.

        “It's the trend everywhere,” said sixth-grade teacher Debbie Weber, who initiated the uniforms earlier this year with fellow teachers Elaine Poynter, Kevin McDonel and Brett Stubbs. "You see it more at fast-food restaurants, at businesses where people wear the company logo and in casual Friday days.”

        Many teachers are participating, particularly in the fifth/sixth-grade wing where Mrs. Weber teaches.

        “They're great, good quality clothes that feel comfortable,” Mr. Stubbs said. “I don't have to decide what to wear to school. The community comes in and sees many of us dressed the same. We've gotten a lot of positive reaction.”

        The uniform idea was a natural extension of the school's practice of having staff members wear “spirit apparel” emblazoned with the Cougar logo on days when there were sporting events, Mrs. Weber said. It started just one or two days a week and is now up to four.

        “There was never any pressure to participate. It's all voluntary,” Principal Judy Scherrer said.

        Shirts are ordered from Land's End and embroidered at a discount by GiddyUp Sportswear, a mail-order business co-owned by Mr. Stubbs and other Edgewood educators. Both long- and short-sleeve shirts are available and cost about $18 to $30, Mrs. Weber said. Staff members pay for their own clothing.

        “We use primary colors that people already have,” Mrs. Weber said. “It's just so much easier to dress, and that's what sells everyone.”

        Some students say they wouldn't mind uniforms for themselves.

        “I think the kids should wear them, too,” said Kayla Pate, 11. “You don't have to worry about what to wear.”

        Twelve-year-old Jason Combs already wears his football jersey to school on game days. He says he wouldn't mind wearing a uniform but doesn't think all of his classmates would embrace the idea.

        “I think they're pretty cool. But some wouldn't want to do it,” he said. “They (teachers) get to style their own uniform. It helps me know the teachers.”

        Mrs. Weber said the school's Safety and Security Committee cites the advantage of instant recognition of staff by visitors, or in crisis situations.

        “But that's not why I suggested it,” Mrs. Weber said. “I got tired of having to decide what to wear for school.”

        Superintendent Dale Robertson said there are no plans to ask students or staff in any other building to wear any kind of uniform.

       

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